PS one Screen and Battery Pack Slated for February

Share.

Sony's neat white console is about to get a whole lot more portable.

By IGN Staff

Last July, Sony Computer Entertainment America announced the brief details around its redesigned PlayStation game console, dubbed PS one. The unit made its debut in Japan first and then arrived on Western shores in September 2000, and has since sold phenomenally well, even better than its more powerful brother, PlayStation 2, or for that matter the Nintendo 64 and the Dreamcast.

When the unit was announced, the first pictures showed the PS one adorned with a cell phone and a LCD screen attached to it. The shots, which highlighted the model's use in Japan, cause a great stir, and many folks wondered when they would play phone games on their PS ones, while carrying it around and playing on the bus, in the back of the car, on the plane, and playing phone games, to boot. Representatives from SCEA made it very clear that the system was not a portable unit, that it was not meant to be compared to the Game Boy, and that the phone was only for the Japanese market. When asked about a battery pack, SCEA declined to furnish any more details, but explained that the screen would appear in spring 2001.

Today, IGNPPSX was able to acquire information that points to Sony's intention of manufacturing a first-party battery pack for PS one as early as February 2001. A good source in the retail channel told IGNPSX that Sony is in the works with the screen (which was already known) and a battery pack for portable play due out as early as February 2001.

In addition to the first-party four-inch color TFT LCD screen and the battery pack, IGNPSX learned that Pelican Accessories is planning on delivering its own third-party manufactured LCD screen as well (believed at this point to be unlicensed). The battery pack is believed to retail for around $20-$30, while the LCD should cost about $30-$40. When phoned today, SCEA had no comment.

IGNPSX will have more news on the PS one and peripherals for it as soon as possible.